Eco Living
Introduction Starting a zero waste kitchen guide journey usually begins with a look inside your trash can. It is a humbling experience. I remember doing a “trash audit” three years ago. I tipped my bin onto a tarp (gross, I know) and analyzed the contents. It wasn’t food scraps; it was packaging. Plastic wrap, Ziploc…
Introduction Learning composting for beginners is usually sparked by a specific kind of guilt: throwing a half-eaten salad or a basket of moldy strawberries into the trash can. You know it’s organic matter. You know it could become soil. But instead, it is heading to a landfill where it will be entombed in plastic bags,…
Introduction Implementing passive cooling techniques usually becomes a necessity when your air conditioner breaks down in the middle of a heatwave, or when you see your electric bill and realize you are paying a second rent just to stay comfortable. I grew up in a house without central AC. We learned to live with the…
Introduction Learning how to stop microplastics in laundry often starts with a shocking realization: your favorite cozy fleece jacket is essentially made of oil. I remember the day I learned this. I was feeling virtuous about buying a sweater made from “100% Recycled Plastic Bottles.” I thought I was saving the planet. Then, I read…
Introduction Implementing energy efficient home upgrades usually becomes a priority the moment you open your electric bill in the middle of winter and your jaw hits the floor. I remember that feeling vividly. Three years ago, I moved into a drafty rental house built in the 1970s. My first winter heating bill was over $400….
Introduction Learning how to reduce food waste usually starts with a guilt trip. We have all been there: You open the crisper drawer in your fridge, hoping to make a healthy salad, only to find a bag of slimy, liquefied spinach that you bought with good intentions five days ago. You sigh, throw the plastic…
Introduction Switching to DIY natural cleaning products usually happens after a headache. I remember scrubbing my shower grout with a popular brand of bleach cleaner. The fumes were so strong I had to open a window and turn on the fan, yet I still felt dizzy. I looked at the bottle, which was covered in…
Introduction Deciding how to quit fast fashion usually begins with a paradox: standing in front of a closet bursting with clothes, yet feeling like you have absolutely nothing to wear. I have been there. My wardrobe used to be a graveyard of $10 t-shirts that lost their shape after one wash and trendy dresses I…
Introduction Searching for zero waste bathroom swaps usually starts with a moment of realization. For me, it happened on a Tuesday night while I was taking a shower. I looked at the ledge of my bathtub and counted. One shampoo bottle, one conditioner, a face wash, a body wash, a plastic razor, and a tub…
Introduction Learning how to start composting in an apartment can feel like inviting a science experiment gone wrong into your living room. The first time I tried to compost in my 500-square-foot studio apartment, it was a disaster. I threw some banana peels and apple cores into a plastic bucket under my sink and forgot…
